With A Work Schedule Like This, Who Needs A Recess

by Stuart Shapiro

As most of you know, President Obama gave a recess appointment to Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  The appointment was controversial because the Senate insists it is not in recess.  Rep. Diane Black (pictured) says she can explain (h/t Huff Post):

“It’s astounding to me that the president is claiming these are recess appointments and within his authority, when Congress was not in fact in recess,” said Black.  “These appointments are an affront to the Constitution.  No matter how you look at this, it doesn’t pass the smell test.  I hope the House considers my resolution as soon as we return to Washington so we can send a message to President Obama.”

I’m not sure whether the president’s actions will be a winner in the courts (the Justice Department memo justifying the actions is described here). But attacking a Congress with historically low approval ratings with members who say they will get back to work as soon as they get back from vacation (aka recess), well that’s a political winner.

By: Stuart Shapiro

Stuart is a professor and the Director of the Public Policy
program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers
University. He teaches economics and cost-benefit analysis and studies
regulation in the United States at both the federal and state levels.
Prior to coming to Rutgers, Stuart worked for five years at the Office
of Management and Budget in Washington under Presidents Clinton and
George W. Bush.